Injuries hurt competition for starting jobs on the Syracuse University football team

Frank Ordoñez / The Post-StandardSyracuse University football fullback Adam Harris has been playing with the first-team offense throughout preseson camp.

Syracuse, NY -- The Syracuse University football team has its first day off today since reporting for preseason camp on August 4. It will need the rest.

By the end of Saturday’s second practice there were more than 20 players out with various injuries, most of them minor but worrisome nonetheless. Head coach Doug Marrone said several of those players will be back in the lineup when camp resumes Monday. Marrone said it will be a critical week of job competition.

Here is a position-by-position look at the team entering the big week:

Quarterback. It is junior Ryan Nassib’s team. His knowledge of the offense, his ability to throw on the move and his ability to run are all improved from last season. Sophomore Charley Loeb still holds down the No. 2 spot.

Tailback. Marrone goes into a season figuring he will need four tailbacks, and he appears to have them in senior starter Antwon Bailey, sophomores Prince-Tyson Gulley and Jerome Smith and true freshman Adonis Ameen-Moore. Bailey is the most diverse, Gulley is the quickest and Ameen-Moore is a pile mover.

Wide receiver. Redshirt freshman Jarrod West has been the best receiver in camp. Sophomore Adrian Flemming has also been dependable. True freshmen Keenan Hale and Kyle Foster have displayed potential at times. Throw in veterans Van Chew and Alec Lemon and the group is bigger and more athletic than it has been in a long time. The X factors are Dorian Graham and Jeremiah Kobena, burners who excite one moment with big catches deep and disappoint the next with dropped passes.

Tight end. SU has three players here who should help in Nick Provo, Beckett Wales and David Stevens, although the latter is more of an H-back. In this offense Provo could catch 50 passes if he stays healthy.

Offensive line. Injuries here have removed any real competition for starting jobs. Five linemen are out with concussions and a few others are banged up. The starting five of center Macky MacPherson, guards Andrew Tiller and Zack Chibane and tackles Justin Pugh and Michael Hay remains intact. The most impressive newcomer has been tackle Kristofer Curtis.

Defensive line. End remains the deepest position on the team, with Chandler Jones, Mikhail Marinovich, Torrey Ball and Brandon Sharpe game-tested and redshirt freshman Micah Robinson ready to ear time, too. Inside, Cory Boatman has missed most of camp with a concussion, leaving a rotation inside of junior Deon Goggins and sophomores Jay Bromley and Robert Welsh. Goggins seems to be a different player than he was a year ago when he struggled after transferring in from junior college. Rookies Eric Crume and Ryan Sloan have displayed potential.

Linebacker. While true freshmen Oliver Vigille and Cameron Lynch are getting more comfortable with each passing day, the starting trio of Marquis Spruill, Dan Vaughan and Dyshawn Davis has yet to be pushed seriously. JUCO transfer Siriki Diabate is solid but small (5-10, 210). Sophomore Lewellyn Coker, who packs the biggest wallop on impact, is playing the middle and strong side and could be the first player called on in the event of an injury at either position.

Cornerback. Even though SU lost both starters from last season this critical position looked fine with Kevyn Scott, Keon Lyn and Ri’Shard Anderson. Then Lynn went down with a dislocated right shoulder on Thursday and the picture changed dramatically, as the candidates for the No. 4 corner – Jaston George, Ritchy Desir and Brandon Reddish – are freshmen. All three are taking strides but continue to display their lack of experience.

Safety. While there is concern here at present with starters Phillip Thomas (jaw) and Shamarko Thomas (concussion) out, there are still experienced players in Olando Fisher and Jeremi Wilkes. Rookie Durell Eskridge has been the most impressive true freshman in camp on defense (Ameen-Moore gets the nod on offense).

Returners. With Gulley and Steve Rene out it is hard to get a handle on these positions.

Kicker. Sophomore Ross Krautman is the man. He is also getting more distance on his kickoffs this season, a pleasant development.

Punter. It is a battle right now between junior Shane Raupers and rookie Jonathan Fisher, with neither gaining the edge so far. Walk-on Riley Dixon could be in the mix, too.

That is how the team shapes up 10 practices into camp. How things change this week will depend on how quickly the injured return and how much the newcomers develop.